Next up is State and Local Advocacy Coordinator,Jeff Peel.
Hi Jeff, What’s your favorite Bike Month memory?
When I worked at WABA as Program Manager, Bike to Work Day was the only day I would drive to work in a rented truck full of folding tables, pop-up tents and other event supplies. After a few years of cold and rainy Bike to Work Days, the last few years of pleasant, sunny mornings with thousands of bike commuters at Freedom Plaza have shown firsthand how much bicycling has grown in DC. It’s a similar story across the country.
How did you celebrate Bike Month this year?
I celebrated by helping encourage others to get out and ride! I’ve been to PA Walks & Bikes Summit, Memphis Club Leadership Training and Dayton at the Miami Valley Cycling Summit representing the League.
If I am an advocate working at the state level, what are the three most important things I can do to improve bicycling in my state?
1)Understand the funding process: Knowing how transportation money flows and influencing your Long Range Plan and state and regional Transportation Improvement Program project lists is critical. This is how bike lanes, highway shoulders, trails and the like actually get built.
2)Pass Complete Streets: A Complete Streets policy, resolution, legislation, etc. doesn’t magically transform your state’s roadways instantly, but it gives you one heck of a tool to ensure that they will end up that way.
3) Ride your bike: Encouraging more people to ride for transportation and recreation is one of the easiest and best things an advocate can do. Plan rides large and small- it’s what Bike Month is all about! The numbers show that the more people riding, the safer we all are. More people riding creates more demand for better facilities and improved traffic enforcement. In places where there isn’t a lot of political support for bicycling, it can give you the groundswell needed to push for changes.
Why do you ride your bike?
I hate waiting for the bus. I hate being stuck in traffic. Bicycling gives me the freedom to go when and where I want, under my own power and on my own schedule.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
I think the biggest mental hurdle for new bike commuters is realizing that your safest, most enjoyable bike route likely isn’t the same way you’d drive to your destination. Every community has great neighborhood streets with low traffic volumes and slow speeds that are good for bicycling. I have the opposite problem. I drive so infrequently now that rather than take fast arterial roads, I tend to drive my bike routes, making my car trips longer than they need to be.
What do you typically wear to ride?
On road rides, my Arrow Bicycle kit. Otherwise, it’s just normal clothes that my good friend Mikael would hopefully approve of.
What your favorite bike you’ve ever owned?
Is this a trick question? There’s been so many. I’ve loved them all…most of them anyways. My Ahearne single speed 29’er was probably the most fun. The Rivendell Romulus probably saw the most miles. Bikes are great, but they’re just tools. My favorite bike is the one that gets me home today.
Thanks, Jeff!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
I like the energy and excitement of the Bike Month. I especially like to see people come together with one common goal in mind – to bike more often. I also enjoy calls coming into the League office about how to put on an event, post an event. It is great to see all of the interest in Bike Month on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
What inspires you to ride your bike?
My health inspires me to ride while enjoying the outdoors.
When and why do you ride?
I ride most often during League events or on weekends, having fun with that special someone. I also take spin classes. Does that count?
What’s your favorite story about you on a bike?
My favorite story is going on a ride with the League staff to the newly opened Woodrow Wilson Bridge. It was my first time riding a bike in a while. Although it rained within in five minutes of starting, there were some unexpected highlights like riding in traffic, going through the trails in Virginia, crossing over the bridge into Maryland.
I had a bumpy ride. I actually crashed three crashes times – due to my negligence. I learned the hard way never to ride while distracted. I fell while calling the League’s vice president on my cell phone while riding after I split off from the group. Now I know that’s a big No-No. Then I had some trouble trying to cross over some train tracks. Finally, I was looking at a rider on the opposite side and lost my balance. I was so happy to get back to our office. From all of those experiences, I definitely learned how to ride more safely.
You don’t yet ride every day. What changes would make you ride your bike more?
I live in the Prince Georges’ County area of Maryland. If we could get bike lanes coming from Maryland to the city or better trails that would put me closer to the city, I would commuter every day. I would love to bike every day. I can image how much weight I would lose.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
Get with an experience rider or join a bike club where you can build up yourself confidence.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before your first rode a bike?
I realize how much money I could save by commuting on a bike and the benefits of keep a good figure.
What do you typically wear to ride?
Nothing fancy. I wear workout clothes, running pants, sweat pants, t-shirt, but one day I will have one of those cute biking outfits.
Thanks, Sharon!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Hi Scott, how are you celebrating Bike Month this year? What’s your favorite Bike Month experience?
I get to celebrate cycling all year long by working at the League! I’ve got WABA Bike to Work Day t-shirts going back years, and have always enjoyed being part of the big downtown rally, but last year was the best. Working with Team League, I got down to Freedom Plaza at dawn to help WABA set up, then watched as the commuters rolled in and filled the plaza. It was awesome.
As the League’s membership director, what have you heard from League members about why is Bike Month good for members or bicycling in general?
I think that it can be easy to take cycling for granted – you can become accustomed to how good you have it. Whether that’s the bike lane you’re using, your favorite bike, or your favorite bike shop. It’s nice to have an occasion to celebrate cycling, and share your excitement with others. That’s what I hear from members – they’re excited about teaching kids, leading adults on their first bike commute, or just being with other cyclists at a Bike Month event.
When and why do you ride your bike?
I mostly use my bike for commuting, 9 or 10 months a year. It’s gotten easier since I bought a ride-behind bike for my 5 year old daughter – I drop her and the ride-behind at her school, then cycle on into work. It’s a touch over 7 miles each way, and takes about as much time as a Metro/Bus commute.
What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
I got back into biking in the mid-1990s when I rode 52 miles with friends, from Bethany Beach in Delaware to Cape May, New Jersey and back again. I hadn’t really done any cycling in years, and didn’t even have my own bike. It was lucky there were a couple of long ferry rides in the middle to break up the trip. More recently I rode 40 miles from Albuquerque to Belen, NM, at the National Bike Rally in 2010.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
One key thing is that your driving route is probably not your best biking route. There’s probably a more relaxing, more flat, route somewhere nearby. Find another commuter with a similar commute and ask her how she gets to work. Or contact your local bike club or advocacy organization and ask them to suggest a route.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
I was quite afraid of cold and dark when I started, and I would give up biking when daylight savings time ended until the days got long again. Once I tried biking at night, I realized it was not a big deal and in some ways easier than daytime biking. It’s easier to tell which cars are in operation! Similarly, with an investment in gear, I realized that I can bike pretty comfortably down to about 30 degrees. Below that, and I tend opt for the bus and Metro.
What do you typically wear to ride?
Usually, one of my collection of brightly colored soccer jerseys, though I do avoid wearing any of the ones that might agitate anyone. I think that I bike like a soccer player, too – most of my ride is at a moderate pace, punctuated by sprints when I see a light I want to make, or a hole in traffic I want to hit.
Thanks, Scott!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
I got my first post-college bike in 2000, and loved riding around Arlington, Va. In 2004, however, a guy at my then-job suggested I could actually ride to work. I had moved to Washington, D.C. and worked out near Tysons Corner, Va. My commute was a clogged-highway-66 or a packed Metro — I thought his suggestion was crazy. Then, in Bike Month, he offered me meet me on the trail and show me how easy it was. I was hooked immediately — it turns out the trail ran almost directly from my house to my office, making my commute fun, healthy and so much happier than my other options.
In addition to BTWW, how did you celebrate Bike Month this year?
I actually traveled to Dallas and Colorado (sadly, didn’t there by bike) to ride with advocates and League members there, and helped the Washington Area Bicyclist Association out on Bike to Work Day (so many bagels that must be cut in half, so many bananas …). I just love the energy and enthusiasm of cyclists in May — it is the best time to ride, here in D.C. Those of us who ride all year round see many new faces on the streets, and it’s just fun to be in such great company.
As the League’s Vice President, what are you seeing right now in this country that inspires or encourages you about the state of bicycling? Any big challenges?
There are a ton of challenges for cyclists (actually, for all Americans) as we continue to come out of this recession and talk of cutting the budget continues to make headlines. The reasons for hope are even more numerous, though, and more inspiring. From the (small but strong) headway we are making in my hometown, Houston, Texas, to the amazing leaps forward in D.C., Boston and New York City—bicycling is really making an impact. A personal inspiration is the continued ability to change how people get around– I convinced a neighbor to bike to work this week, passing on the favor that my colleague did for me seven years ago. She’s already asked if we can ride together again next week. That’s how we’re changing America — with landmark legislation, with statewide advocacy organizations, with local advocates working on making streets more bicycle friendly, and … person by person.
When and why do you ride your bike?
I ride my bike anytime I can. My family and I ride to church, I am an all-year-round bicycle commuter, and I live on a rail-trail, so we spend most weekends biking around for exercise and fun.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
Remember that you don’t have to ride the way you drive to work— that’s what intimidated me. There are lots of other ways to get from point A to point B, and most are much more pleasant than the huge arterials and freeways that we spend so much time on, usually stuck in traffic.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
How easy it is! That I don’t have to wear special clothes, or be particularly fast. That it’s a great way to lose weight.
What do you typically wear to ride?
Whatever I am wearing for my day. I rode across the U.S. in 2006, so I have my fair share of lycra, but I’ve found jeans and a t-shirt, or a dress and heels, work just as well for my 6-mile commute.
Anything else you’d like to share?
My husband became an avid bicycle commuter after I bought him a bike while we were dating. He now stays home with our children (3 and 1 ½), and they bike to as many playgroups and art classes as they can. My son loves to coast on his balance bike, and is asking for training wheels soon. It thrills me to come to work every day, knowing that my kids will be able to bike anywhere they want in the U.S., thanks to the work the League and our members are doing now.
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
On Tuesday, May 24th, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced legislation aimed at improving roadways to make them safer and to encourage Americans to walk or bike to their destinations. The Complete Streets Act of 2011 (number not yet assigned) would promote the design of streets that are safe for all who use them – including motorists, bus riders, pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with disabilities. The bill encourages federal, state, and regional agencies that receive federal transportation funding to fully consider incorporating pedestrian and bicycle safety measures when roads are built or modernized. Harkin has introduced similar legislation in 2009 and 2007.
The Complete Streets Act of 2011 is cosponsored by Senators Thomas Carper (D-DE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Mark Begich (D-AK), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Carl Levin (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Al Franken (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD). The diverse members of the National Complete Streets Coalition are expressing their support for the measure; see their statements here.
~Walter Finch Director of Advocacy, League of American Bicyclists
Finch joined the League in 2006 and has more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry. He worked as a government relations associate with G.S. Proctor & Associates, served as the chief of staff for a member of Maryland’s House of Delegates, and worked at the U.S. Department of Transportation as the Special Assistant, Office of the Secretary, Office of Intermodalism.
The Advocacy Advance Team, a partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking, has released a new report on the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), a core federal-aid funding program. The report, called Getting a Fair Share for Safety from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP): Bicycle and Pedestrian Advocacy Case Studies, examines the states that have successfully dedicated federal safety funds to reduce bicycle and pedestrian fatalities and crashes. In a number of cases, advocates have taken a leading role in ensuring the transportation agency prioritized road safety projects for non‐motorists. These case studies can help advocates and officials in other states access this untapped resource for badly needed bicycle and pedestrian safety projects.
To date, bicycle and pedestrian projects have not received a fair share of HSIP funds. Fourteen percent of traffic fatalities nationwide in 2009 were non‐motorists. Yet, according to the Financial Management Information System (FMIS), only 6 states (CA, FL, NJ, OH, VA, WA) had HSIP funds coded as bicycle and/or pedestrian projects in 2010. Six states (AL, CA, FL, MN, NC, VA) coded HSIP funds on bicycle/pedestrian projects in 2009.
The Report contains the following recommendations to access safety funding for bicycling and walking safety projects:
Understand the HSIP planning process. Get acquainted with the program criteria, requirements, schedule and personnel. The following suggestions will help you do it.
Cultivate internal advocates. Get to know your state’s HSIP staff. Find out who else influences the relevant policies, processes and project selection. They can include local agency staff, State Highway Safety Engineers, District Safety Engineers and others. These folks understand the system. They are important sources of information and can be your best allies – many of them care deeply about bicyclist and pedestrian safety.
Cultivate elected officials. Elected officials wield influence over programs and priorities; when they show interest, it matters. They can also be more heavy‐handed. When agencies need a nudge, state legislation (or the threat of it) can produce results. The first step can be to highlight the need for safety interventions in your community. Find elected officials who care about this issue at the state and local levels. (Hint: they will care if they know their constituents care.)
Influence the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). In order for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects to be eligible for HSIP funds, the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan must identify them as priorities. Find out if bicyclist, pedestrian, and/or vulnerable road user safety is a plan priority area and get involved with revising the plan for bike/ped improvements and data collection. (See the matrix of SHSP priorities.) Plans have to be revised periodically. Find out when and recommend like‐minded officials and advocates for the relevant committees.
Learn the project selection criteria. How does the state select and prioritize safety projects? What are the performance outcomes being measured? Figure out how bicycle and pedestrian projects can compete, before the selections are finalized, to influence the project selection and prioritization process.
Collect crash and fatality data. The HSIP project selection process is data driven. For projects to be funded, they need to be shown to address to proven and quantifiable safety need. Gather this data and encourage the state to develop a better statewide reporting system and GIS mapping to make this data more available to local agencies.
Announce the funding opportunity. If your HSIP proposal deadlines are public, share them with state and local advocates, your constituents and the public, and provide tips for what to emphasize in the application to make for a successful project. If not, find out and share other key deadlines, like for the Transportation Improvement Plans (TIP) and Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP).
Follow up. Meet with the department and elected officials after safety projects have been selected. Thank them for funded bicycle and pedestrian safety projects, and remind them of the continued need. Follow‐up with local communities that were funded for bicycle and pedestrian projects to ensure that they do a good job with the funding and that they evaluate the results. That way you can publicize how they got the funding and made the improvements to inspire other agencies to apply for HSIP funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the next round.
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Today is Bike to Work Day (always the third Friday in Bike Month), and the League celebrated at Washington, D.C.’s event on Freedom Plaza. The event, hosted by WABA, reportedly had more than 8,000 registered for D.C. Metro festivities, while 10,000 in D.C. were expected to ride to work. Freedom Plaza was packed — and packed with a solid representation of the American bike rider. We had people of all ages, backgrounds and clothing styles hanging out, talking about bikes, and having fun.
The speakers at the event were just as impressive as the turnout, and they made all of us bicyclists feel warm and fuzzy. The D.C. politicians get why bikes are important and raved about Capital Bike Share. Even Mayor Vincent Gray was on hand to accept Washington, D.C.’s Bicycle Friendly Community award from League president Andy Clarke — D.C. recently upgraded to a Silver-level BFC. Gray, though, said he wasn’t happy with just Silver and riled the crowd with promises of reaching Gold and one day Platinum.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood couldn’t make it to this year’s Bike to Work Day but he did blog about it on Fast Lane and send FTA Administrator Rogoff and Undersecretary Roy Kienitz to the D.C. event. Rogoff and Kienitz cemented that the Obama administration is behind bicycling. Rogoff said bicycling helps in so many of the Obama Administration’s goals: lowering greenhouse gasses, lowering our dependency on oil, and making better and efficient use of the infrastructure we already have.
If you’re feeling lucky, the League and Seal Line are giving away Seal Ling bags. You can win with the best Bike to Work tweet today, told in 140 characters or less. We’re taking submissions all day that use the #B2WD hashtag. You may get bonus points if you include our names @SealLine and @BikeLeague!
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
One million people in cities across the country will ride their bikes to work on National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 20th, saving themselves more than $4 per gallon in gas costs while simultaneously reducing congestion, energy consumption and air pollution.
“We’ve been celebrating bike to work day for more than 50 years,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, “and there’s never been a better time for people to try this commuting option. More and more cities are putting in bike lanes, trails and parking for bikes, and as gas prices go up and congestion gets worse, biking looks like an increasingly attractive choice.”
National bike commuter data, provided by the American Community Survey, supports that more Americans are biking to work – there has been a nationwide 44 percent increase over the past 10 years. Communities that have actively encouraged bicycling have seen even bigger increases, including those designated by the League as Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFCs). Platinum-level BFC Portland, Ore. has seen a 230 percent increase in bicycle commuters since 2000, their percentage holding steady at 5.8 percent of work trips, while 12.3 percent of citizens in Platinum BFC Boulder, Colo. ride every day. Other stand out BFC commuting cities include: Silver-level Gainesville, Fla. with 6.3 percent, and Gold-level Minneapolis, Minn.’s number of 3.9 percent commuting by bike daily. Statistics for more than 200 U.S. cities are available here.
The Majority of the League’s BFCs and Bicycle Friendly Universities (BFUs) are hosting city and campus Bike to Work Day events. “The encouragement to bike in these BFCs and BFUs on Bike to Work Day is just a start to get more people riding but it is the tipping point that influences many non-riders to bike to work or shcool for the first time,” says Clarke.
Notable 2011 Bike to Work Day events include:
Recently upgraded to a Silver-level BFC designation, Washington, D.C. is hosting a huge Bike to Work Day celebration across the DC Metro area, complete with 49 pit stops and a festival at D.C.’s Freedom Plaza. Currently, 8,900 are registered and 10,000 are expected to participate. “This one-day show of force allows us to highlight for area leaders and the public at-large the prevalence of cycling as a core component of the region’s transportation system,” says Shane Farthing, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. The US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Federal Transit Administration Peter Rogoff are both speaking and riding their bikes to the event. Visit www.waba.org for event details.
New York City also recently upgraded to become a Silver-Level BFC and has been celebrating Bike Month for all of May with more than 200 rides, workshops, races and events. NYC’s Bike to Work Day is the city’s focal point with Transportation Alternatives hosting eight rest stop locations, including on the Brooklyn Bridge and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Check www.bikemonthnyc.org for a list of events.
Boise Idaho, has a 4.1% of bicycle commuters and has hosted a popular and successful Bike Month and Bike to Work Day since 2003. The city is home to Bronze-leve BFU Boise State University, which homes the Bicycle Community Congress. Boise Bike Week has been packed with events, including: a kickoff celebration, rides, fairs, picnics, a ride of silence, and mountain bike intros. Bike to Work Day is expected to attract hundreds of riders and includes after work events, such as a recumbent rally and a bike-in movie. For full Boise Bike to Work details visit: www.boisebikeweek.org.
Bronze-level BFC Auburn, Ala. is having several events to celebrate Bike to Work Day, with several encouraging school children to bike. The citywide Bike to School Competition will have each homeroom class in grades 1-5 riding their bicycles to school on May 20. The homeroom with the most riders will receive an ice cream social courtesy of the Auburn Bicycle Committee. The day after Bike to Work Day will be celebrated with a Mountain Bike the Acorn Trail ride – a 3.1 mile loop, single track with a ride through beautiful woods and creek crossings at the Acorn Trail in Alex City, AL. All events are listed here.
The League provides national support for Bike Month and Bike to Work Week and Day activities. We offer organizational and promotional tools such as the Bike Month Planning guide and free Bike Month logos, signs and web banners. The League also hosts the national database for Bike to Work Week and Day events. Most importantly, the League has tips to ride better, safer and more confidently in traffic. All resources can be found at bikeleague.org/bikemonth.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
In celebration of Bike to Work Week, we are launching a new bike commuting data tool to help you find out how many bicycle commuters are in your city.
Just go to the page and find your community from the drop-down menu. You can see the number of bicycle commuters, the percentage of bicycle commuters, the share who are female, and the percent of the population in college. There are 244 cities on the list. Only the cities with populations greater than 65,000 are available. Communities without American Community Survey commuter estimates were removed. For the 90 largest US cities, you can also find the number of miles of bike lanes and paths.
If you’d like to work with the numbers in spreadsheet form, you can download them.
The Census Bureau collects American Community Survey (ACS) data from a sample of the population in the United States, not from the whole population. All American Community Survey (ACS) data are estimates. For margins of error for the estimates above, download the full table labeled “RAW data.”
2009 ACS data were collected between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 from cities with population of 65,000 and greater. In the tables above, cities for which the ACS did not have journey to work estimates were removed. This is generally due to small samples and privacy concerns.
The population estimates come from the ACS and not the decennial census or the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program.
Bicycling data
The bicycling data in the tables above record only journeys to work. They do not account for all bicycling in the community.
Further, the data record only the primary mode used during the week surveyed. Commuters are not counted as bicyclists if they rode two out of five days in the week, or if they rode to transit and the transit trip was longer than the bike portion.
Commuters who bicycle every day in the summer but were surveyed in the winter were not counted as cyclists. (The ACS surveys an equal number of respondents each month, so seasonal differences are accounted for overall.) The survey question can be said to capture the number of regular, primary bicycle commuters, but it is not an estimate of how many people ride to work on a given day.
Lane and path mileage
Staff of the League of American Bicyclists collected the number of bicycle lane and paths miles from 90 of the 100 largest US cities in January 2010. Bike lanes were counted as “center-line miles,” meaning that a mile of bike lane on a one-way street was counted as one mile and a mile of road with bike lanes in both directions was also counted as one mile. Path mileage was collected based on the number of miles of dedicated bike path or multi-use path, based on AASHTO definitions.
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Next up is Bicycle Friendly Communities Program Specialist, Alison Dewey.
Hi Alison, how are you celebrating Bike Month this year?
I’m celebrating 2011 Bike Month with a big dose of bike education. Along with friends from the League, I am volunteering my time to instruct multiple Girl Scout troops on bike safety. We are emphasizing how to safely follow the rules of the road while on a bike and stressing the importance of sharing the road with bicycles when driving a car. The girls are near driving age so even if they are not using a bike for recreation, transportation, or fitness, it is important they know that bikes are also vehicles on the road and that sharing the road is a responsibility of cyclists and drivers.
What’s your favorite Bike Month memory or experience?
Oh so many! But one of my favorites was a day that the League staff rode to the newly opened Woodrow Wilson Bridge Bike Way. We started out with a very ominous sky above us and of course it wasn’t but five minutes after we had left that the clouds opened up and it poured down. It should have been miserable. Had we been walking or driving certainly I would have looked around and thought “what a crummy day.” But because we were all on our bikes and because even the most novice bike riders in the group were still smiling, it was loads of fun. Really, being on a bike gives a totally different perspective; it can turn even the ugliest weather into an enjoyable experience.
Let’s get down to business, Bicycle Friendly Business, that is. As the Bicycle Friendly Business specialist, what are some BFBs that stand out for having great Bike Month events?
I’d love to spend a Bike Month in Anchorage, Alaska with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium! Bike to Work Day is celebrated with morning coffee, treats, prizes and a live two-hour radio broadcast. At lunch they do a blessing of the bikes, then in the evening riders from the community and hospital gather for pizza and a live blue grass music party.
Another standout is National Geographic. The business provides an elaborate breakfast spread for employees that ride in on Bike to Work Day. Throughout the month they have bike safety seminars and repair classes to get employees ready to ride. Ameriprise Financial in Minnesota features commuter profiles on their intranet. Last year rider experiences ranged from the racer whose daily ride to work is 40 miles round trip to the mother who transports her son in a Burley trailer and drops him off/picks him up at daycare midway through her daily commute of less than five miles.
When and why do you ride your bike?
I ride my bike every chance I get and with three small kids, the youngest being three months, the chances don’t come as often as they used to. It’s very hard to find the time to go out to just ride for fitness so these days I have to work it into my daily or weekly errands. I just found a great bike route to our church where we celebrated Bike Month with a Bike to Church Day, the turn-out was amazing and no one looked the wearier because of it! I also regularly bike my oldest daughter to pre-school and ride to the occasional neighborhood meeting at night.
What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
My longest ride was not an organized ride but rather a training ride for an event. I pedaled 120 miles throughout the North Shore of Boston, one of my favorite places to ride, in preparation for competing in Ironman Lake Placid. That was before the three kids!
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
Bike commuting can be for everyone. It is not limited to avid riders, athletes, or cycling kamakazis. It’s really for anyone who likes a healthy lifestyle. Even if you live farther than you think is feasible to bike, consider using a bike/bus combination. There are a growing number of cities putting bike racks on buses to accommodate the increased demand in using bikes during a commute. Bike commuting may seem intimidating but if you seek out a co-worker who is already doing it, I bet they will tell you different. Odds are they will even help you on your first few commutes.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
It’s worth it to pay a little bit more for a good bike. And using your gears makes the ride a lot easier.
What do you typically wear to ride?
It really depends where I am going, how far my destination is, and what my destination is. My ride to work is a good 17 miles so I typically wear a bike jersey and bike shorts and change when I get to work. You’ll often see me in an awesome pair of bike capris that, I think, look quite fashionable and have a chamois for riding comfort – though looking at them you’d never know it. If I am going to a neighborhood meeting or on a local errand, I wear whatever I am wearing that day.
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
I will take the opportunity to participate in Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20 and do my 52 mile round trip commute.
What’s your favorite Bike Month memory?
This year is my 6th Bike Month at the League and each year I have been impressed with the participation from folks in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, which includes Maryland and Virginia, even in inclement weather as we have had a few of those.
Probably my favorite bike to work day memory was two yearsago when I had the opportunity to join a group of Capitol Hill staffers, several Congressional Members and the Mayor for a ride up Pennsylvania Avenue on the then yet-to-open bike lanes. It was quite exhilarating to take in the view as we rode up one of the world’s most recognized streets.
OK, give us the inside scoop. What’s really happening with the transportation bill?
Well now, that is the sixty-four thousand dollar question, isn’t it? It seems the answer changes on a daily basis depending on whom you speak with on the Hill. On the House side, the latest we are hearing is that Representative Mica (R-FL), who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) wants to complete the Federal Aviation Authorization first before taking up the surface transportation bill. The goal is to complete FAA by the end of May, which would delay surface transportation until later in June. Completing FAA by the end of May is certainly a huge hurdle and we expect that deadline to slip into June.
On the Senate side, we understand the Committee with jurisdiction, the Environment and Public Works Committee is meeting to hash out the “principles” and major decisions for the surface transportation bill. We have not heard of a timeframe for introduction on the Senate side, but typically, the House introduces first so we would expect that to be the case this time.
I think the reality is that the further we get into the year the less likely we are to see a long- term reauthorization. We do have to remain vigilant however to ensure that any short-term extensions or variations do not include negatively impact bicycling and walking programs such as Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to Schools and the Recreational Trails Program.
Can you share with us an experience you had on Capitol Hill this year that encouraged you? Talk a little about the challenges you’re seeing, as well.
I think this year, as in the past years, the Thursday Congressional Reception get-together after the National Bike Summit is always the most encouraging day on the Hill. Year after year, the energy level grows, not just from the Summit attendees, but also from Congressional Members and staffers that are visited by the Summit attendees.
The major challenge we continue to face is that bicycling in still not viewed as a mainstream viable transportation option that should be part of our nation’s transportation policy. The fact that some Members of Congress rise on the floor of the House or Senate to say that funding for bicycle projects is a waste of money is quite frustrating.
When and why do you ride your bike?
My goal is to ride a few nights a week and on weekends primarily to workout. When time allows I also ride with my wife and son on weekends. We will bring our bikes into D.C. to ride around the city or we will hop on the Baltimore and Annapolis trail at some point, ride into Annapolis and spend the day.
During the workday, I sometimes use the Capital Bike Share system to go to meetings. Great system.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
As they say at Nike “Just do it”. Enjoy the fact that you have the option to commute by bike. If you are just thinking about starting to commute by bike, take the opportunity this month, during bike month to participate in bike to work days to explore the various routes you might be able to take to work and meet others that are commuting to work. The League has many great resources online as well, that can provide tips and suggestions on how to get started.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
That there are so many resources for bicyclists from learning the safe and proper way to ride, to tips on how to pick the bike that fits you best, to finding where to ride.
What do you typically wear to ride?
I typically ride to work out so I usually just wear shorts, t-shirt, sunglasses, and helmet. For the bike share trips, I wear business attire.
Thanks, Walt!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
What was your favorite Bike to Work Week experience?
My favorite Bike to Work Week experience was Bike to Work Week 2009. I got a new bike, and I biked to work for the first time on Bike to Work Day. My co-workers helped me put my new bike together and helped me find my way from Arlington, Va. to Washington, D.C. My ride is very hilly and at the time the commute seemed like a hundred miles (it was a 16-mile round trip; now it’s a 14-mile round trip) – especially on my uphill ride home. However, my co-worker’s enthusiasm and encouragement kept me riding. That week I became a bike commuter. I sold my car three months later, and now the majority of my trips are taken by bike. I occasionally use the bus or metro.
In addition to Bike to Work Week, how are you celebrating Bike Month this year?
My job as the League’s communications director keeps me immersed in Bike Month – approving Bike Month events across the nation, sending e-news, connecting on Facebook and Twitter and answering tons of press inquires. I celebrate by riding as much as I can and trying to get my friends to ride. This year I got my boyfriend to consider riding to work and one of my friends wants to ride with me to the D.C. Bike to Work Day event. Oh, I’m also celebrating by using my new purse that clips to my handlebars. It’s so cool!
Bike Month is taking off on Twitter (#bikemonth) and Facebook, and the events list is overflowing. What has surprised you or impressed you about Bike Month’s relationship with social networking?
It surprised me how much our members and fans use Twitter and Facebook! They love sharing the League’s information, using the Bike Month logos as their profile pictures (!), sending Twitpics of their rides and using the #bikemonth and #B2WD hashtags in their Tweets. Our Twitter feed is constantly updating and nearly 1,300 Facebook fans have committed to riding and encouraging others to ride by RSVPing to our May is Bike Month Facebook event.
When and why do you ride your bike?
I ride my bike for all my commuter needs and errands – work, the grocery store, going out to meet friends, and all sorts of things in between. Last week, I rode my bike to get a pedicure and manicure – it’s a little tricky not messing up your nails on the way home but they sure do dry fast. I also love to use the Capital Bikeshare system when my friends and family visit. They all rave about the “Meghan Bike Share tours” and how much fun the bikes are to ride around.
Why do I ride? I ride because it keeps me in shape, keeps me healthy (I have asthma, and it really helps to keep my lungs strong), is easy on my joints, and because it elevates my mood. Gotta love endorphins! Bike riding also makes my stronger – and this includes my confidence. Though, I am completely comfortable riding in traffic there are a couple things I hate about D.C – the insane congestion on the roads and the summer pollution (August is a killer for those who have respiratory issues). I like to think that by riding my bike instead of driving that I am part of a solution. Hopefully, other women will see me out there on my bike with my cute handlebar purse and think, “Hey if she can do it, maybe I can too.”
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
If you don’t have a comfy seat and you are riding 10 or more miles a day, you might want to consider some lycra – I know it sounds heinous. But for ladies, we have great options. You could wear bike shorts underneath your skirt or dress or there are cute and functional cycling skirts and dresses that have the shorts built in. Also, drink lots of water and learn how to change your own flat. It took me a year to finally change my own tube, and it was a great moment for me.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
Bike riding is just as fun now as it was when you were 10, AND you can sleep in later. I get to work faster on my bike than I do on the metro.
What do you typically wear to ride?
I live seven hilly miles away but during the spring when D.C. feels like northern California, I experiment with wearing my work clothes while biking to and from work. Dresses or skirts with bike shorts work best. If it’s hotter than 70 degrees out, I wear a cycling skirt or bike shorts with a tank or t-shirt, sneakers – no clips, my helmet and some shades. Sunglasses are key. If it’s below 40 degrees, super thick, waterproof gloves are vital. I finally got a pair of the lobster gloves last Christmas, and they completely changed my winter riding. Fleece or wool tights and wicking layers are important too.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Bike commuting saves me money. I do not pay for car insurance, car payments, gas, or tolls. My bike is a smart investment.
Thanks, Meghan!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Whether bicycling to work, to improve their health, save money, or to reduce their overall carbon footprint, bicycling is on the rise and the League of American Bicyclists and AAA want motorists and bicyclists to make safety on our shared roadways a priority.
“As more cyclists hit the road and trail, we welcome the opportunity to work with AAA to reinforce the safety messages that both cyclists and motorists really need to take to heart,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “We have a shared responsibility to share the road – and the reality is that most cyclists are also motorists at some point.”
“Education–on both sides—is key for all road users, of all ages,” said AAA’s Traffic Safety Specialist Rhonda Markos. “Despite conventional wisdom, children are not the primary victims of bicycle crashes.” Of the 630 bicyclist deaths in 2009, eight out of ten were adults over 21, so the League of American Bicyclists and AAA have partnered on a campaign to encourage adult bicyclists to take five easy steps to safer riding:
Follow the Rules of the Road:
Always ride with traffic, using the rightmost lane, obeying the same laws as motorists.
Use hand and arm signals to indicate your intention to stop, merge or turn.
Be Visible:
Ride where drivers can see you. Do not ride on the sidewalk.
Wear brightly colored clothing at all times. At night, use a white front light and red rear light or reflector, and wear reflective clothing.
Be Predicable:
Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars.
Make eye contact with motorists to let them know you are there.
Anticipate Conflicts:
Always be aware of traffic around you and be prepared to take evasive action, exercising additional caution at intersections.
Learn braking and turning techniques to avoid crashes.
Wear a Helmet:
Helmets, when worn properly, are up to 85 percent effective in protecting the head and brain in the event of a crash. Should you crash, or have an impact that affects your helmet, replace it immediately.
Fit matters: Wear your helmet level on your head, low on your forehead, with no more than two finger widths above your eyebrow.
“AAA is pleased to work with the League of American Bicyclists to remind adults about safe bicycling practices and to encourage motorists and bicyclists alike to share the road,” Markos said.
Motorists should also make an effort to reduce bicyclist injuries and fatalities.
AAA is encourages it’s members to take the following precautions when sharing the road with bicyclists:
Stay alert, avoiding all distractions while driving.
Yield to bicyclists when turning.
In bad weather, give bicyclists extra passing room.
Check mirrors and blind spots for bicyclists before entering or leaving a lane of traffic.
Slow down and give at least 3 feet of clearance when passing.
Reduce your speed when passing bicyclists, especially when the road is narrow.
NEVER honk your horn at a bicyclist just to let them know you are there; it could cause them to swerve into traffic or off the roadway and crash. Save your horn for emergencies.
Always check for bicyclists before opening your car door.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Hi Lorna, how are you celebrating Bike Month this year?
I celebrate just being able to ride my bike.
What’s your favorite Bike Month experience?
I have found WABA’s Bike to Work Day activities both fun and enjoyable. Just seeing how many people ride to work each day validates the work we do.
What are the best things about bicycling?
The best thing about cycling is the freedom — to be able to go anywhere on your schedule and under your own power. Not waiting for the bus or train. Not hoping you have enough gas in the car or waiting in traffic.
You live in Prince George’s County, an inner-ring suburb of DC. How is the bicycling experience different in PG County than it is in DC?
I live in an urban part of Prince George’s County. Most cyclists in my area cycle out of the need for cheap transportation, not for recreation. Most parents are too afraid to let their children cycle on a regular basis, so it is rare to see kids out on their bikes. Even quality shopping is prohibitive since it is not reachable by foot or bike.
I see far too many near misses in my neighborhood. A teenager died a few months ago just crossing the street. We need more driver awareness and Complete Streets NOW!
When and why do you and your family ride your bikes?
There are some very nice parks several miles from where I live. We like to go together and ride a few times a year.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
Through the League’s education program, I have found that there is a right way to cycle safely with traffic.
What do you typically wear to ride?
Regular clothes or a big shirt and sweat pants on the weekends.
Thanks, Lorna!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Yesterday, Californians used the energy of their Bike to Work Day to send a strong message to Barbara Boxer that they were behind her and needed her to stick up for bicycling and walking in the transportation bill. She heard us loud and clear. But Senator Boxer does not make these key decisions alone. Her colleagues need to hear from us as well.
Today, we need Montanans to send the same message to Senator Max Baucus. Senator Baucus is the chair of the Transportation Sub-committee, and one of the “Big 4″ on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Montanans, please urge Senator Baucus to save bicycling in the transportation bill. This is a crucial time to ensure that key funding programs like Transportation Enhancement, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails continue for the next six years.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Next up is Bill Nesper,Director of the Bicycle Friendly America Program.
Hi Bill, this is your ninth Bike Month with the League. How have you seen the event change over the years?
I think the biggest thing has been the growth in the number of communities and businesses that are promoting National Bike Month. There are a lot of creative ways to do it, too. Bike Month offers all sorts of opportunities for communities, states, businesses and universities to promote bicycling, from simply proclaiming May as Bike Month to community rides and offering incentives to cyclists. Everybody can find a way to celebrate.
What are you enjoying about this year’s Bike Month?
I am enjoying seeing social networking become such big tool for organizing and promoting events. Already this month we have seen tons of events popup on our event calendar.
You can follow Bike Month on Twitter with #BikeMonth.
As the director of the Bicycle Friendly America Program, can you give a few examples of cities that really impress you with their Bike Month festivities?
Lots of public officials participate in Bike Month events. Any notable examples?
A big Bike Month highlight for me so far was kicking off Bike Month in Minneapolis at the Active Living Bike Expo where I presented Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak with the Gold Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Mayor Rybak is a real champion for bicycling and has made the city a model – in a all-weather environment. One cool thing he has done is compete as a bike commuter in the city’s Commuter Challenge – see the video (warning: It’s long and shaky).
When and why do you ride your bike?
Biking for me has always been primarily about transportation, first as a teen getting the freedom to get out by myself to now getting to work, going to the store and transporting my two year-old to the better playgrounds in other neighborhoods. I have to add that there was a period of childhood recreational riding which was based on making ramps to jump on the street in front of my house.
What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
I don’t want to point any fingers but my longest rides are those done in places where bicyclists are not accommodated or worse, driven out of the transportation system by angry drivers, poor planning/engineering, etc. We all know these places.
Happier answer: A century…ehem, metric century that is. Sixty-something miles at El Tour de Tucson a few years back.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
If you want to be a bike commuter, make a commuting buddy who is already doing it in your neighborhood or workplace give you the lowdown. Bikeleague.org is great for learning important riding tips and finding a cycling class near you. Also, it is important to be visible but do not worry so much about what you wear. If you like Lycra go for it, if you like riding in a sport coat or dress, or whatever, go for it. Lastly, if you want to commute and your town is really not giving you what you need, show up at council meetings, write letters, find an advocacy group near you to join and use the Bicycle Friendly Community program as a roadmap for improvement.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
Most trips that we make are pretty short and easy to do on a bike. Honestly, my nine-mile commutes, which are the biggest trips of my week, take about 35 minutes and I feel great when I get there.
What do you typically wear to ride?
For my work commute, I usually wear shorts and a tee shirt (add a couple layers and wind pants/jacket in the colder months) and change when I get there.
For most other trips I wear what I am going to want to be in when I get there.
Thanks, Bill!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Californians, we need you! As you celebrate California’s Bike to Work Day, you have a unique opportunity to shape the next transportation bill.
We have learned that Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the most important U.S. Senate Committee for transportation, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and her colleagues are going to decide on all of the key elements of the Senate version of the transportation bill today and tomorrow. If bicycling and walking are not included in this first draft of the bill, it will be almost impossible to get them added in later.
This is a critical moment for all Californians to urge Senator Boxer to maintain Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails — three key programs that support transportation, safety, and health.
If we don’t act now, bicycling and walking programs may be written out of our transportation system for the next six years.
Senator Boxer has been supportive in the past. However, at this very moment, she is negotiating with other senators who don’t think bicycling and walking are an important part of the transportation bill. She needs to know that we have her back on this issue and she shouldn’t give up on these crucial programs. Please thank her for her past support and tell her how much we need her help today!
Everyone else, please share this alert with your friends and family in California.
Thank you for your support!
Tell Senator Boxer that we have her back and to keep fighting for biking and walking funding in the transportation bill (Photo: Streetsblog DC)
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Pointing to a large parking lot on Capitol Hill, Congressman Blumenauer (D-OR) said, with passion, "I invite you to think about how much the government is paying for this parking. Think of the uses of this expensive real estate." (Photo: Darren Flusche)
“As gas prices go up, people get cranky,” Representative Earl Blumenauer said first thing to the audience gathered to see his announcement of the Commuter Relief Act. He said he wanted to help Americans break free from “the tyranny of the pump” and called for “commuter equity” under the tax code.
Every day the League gets calls from organizations and individuals asking us about the Bicycle Commuter Benefit, which has been helping Americans cover the costs of biking to work since it was enacted in January 2009. Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer announced legislation that, among other things, would strengthen the bike commuter benefit and allow greater flexibility in the use of commuter fringe benefits.
Under the current rules of the Bicycle Commuter Benefit, bike commuters can only receive up to $20 a month for biking-related expenses — less than Congressman Blumenauer and the League had wanted — and the benefit cannot be combined with in a single month with other transportation fringe benefits.
For bike commuters, the Commuter Relief Act would:
Increase the amount of the bike commuter benefit from $20 to $40 a month.
Allow bike commuters to combine the bike commuter benefit with other fringe benefits — up to $200. For example, You could use the $40 bike benefit and collect up to $160 of your public transit benefit.
In addition, the Commuter Relief Act would:
Cap all transportation fringe benefits at $200 a month (the parking benefit is currently $230, the transit cap will drop to $130 at the end of 2011).
Allow self-employed people to receive transit fringe benefits for work-related commuting.
Require employers offering a parking transportation fringe benefit to also offer employees the option to take cash instead. This would create an incentive for more people to leave the car at home and take cheaper options, like transit, biking, and walking.
Create a 10 percent tax credit for vanpool expenditures
Congressmen Earl Blumenauer announces the Commuter Relief Act (Photo: Darren Flusche)
By capping the parking benefit at $200, the legislation would expand commuter benefits to non-drivers while not costing the government any additional money. This makes it what’s known as “revenue neutral,” meaning that it will not contribute to the deficit, an important quality in today’s budget atmosphere.
Representatives Jim Moran and Mazie Hirono, co-sponsors of the bill, joined the League of American Bicyclists, the American Public Transit Association, the Association for Commuter Transportation, and others in supporting the bill.
From left Representatives Blumenauer, Moran (D-VA), and Hirono (D-HI) (Photo: Darren Flusche)
By providing a large parking benefit than transit and bike commuter benefits, the government is essentially subsidizing congestion. And parking doesn’t come cheap. ”I invite you to think about how much the government is paying for this parking,” Congressman Blumenauer said, pointing to a large parking lot on Capitol Hill, “Think of the uses of this expensive real estate.”
This legislation is an inexpensive attempt to right the balance and provide an additional incentive for people to choose active transportation to work.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Senator Klobuchar at the Decade of Action on Road Safety D.C. launch.
Today, May 11, 2011, the United Nations officially launched the Decade of Action for Road Safety, an effort to curb road deaths and ensure road safety by 2020. The event is global, and national and local launches took place in every time zone — including Washington, D.C. (see above picture).
The global initiative is an effort to educate the public and prevent the 1.3 million deaths that are a result of a road traffic collision—more than 3,000 deaths each day. According to the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, of these 1.3 million, more than half of these people are not traveling in a car. Additionally, road traffic injuries are among the three leading causes of death for people between 5 and 44 years of age.
The initiative will hopefully impact developing nations that are especially affected by the lack of road safety provisions. According to United Nations, “Ninety percent of road traffic deaths occur in low-and middle-income countries, which claim less than half the world’s registered vehicle fleet.”
Visit the Decade of Action Web site to get active in the Road Safety initiative and to connect with fellow advocates worldwide.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
The Federal Highway Administration has announced that $422 million in discretionary grant funds is available from 11 funding sources. Much of the funding for these programs in the past has been directed by Congressional earmarks, leaving little to merit and the actual discretion of the Federal Highway Administration. However, the FY2011 budget requires that all funds be discretionary, meaning that projects will be based on merit selection through an application process.
Bicycle and pedestrian projects are eligible for almost all federal-aid transportation programs. If advocacy groups are aware of eligible projects, they should work with the appropriate elected and agency officials to develop a proposal.
Click on each program above for program-specific selection criteria. Several of the programs in this grant process hold particular opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian projects:
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
The first week of Bike Month has been exciting and filled with #bikemonth tweets, twit pics of sweet rides, more than 1,000 Facebook users committed to participating and encouraging riding this Bike Month by RSVPing to the Facebook May is Bike Month event, and hundreds of rides posted on bikeleague.org/bikemonth_events. Hopefully, you aren’t filling your days online with social networking because you are so busy riding and helping new riders learn the ropes of commuting. But if that isn’t the case, here’s a few reason’s why you should be participating in National Bike Month.
1) You need to save money! We all need to buy that house, send our kid to college or want to see your favorite band perform this summer. Why not save the money you spend on gas, and ride to work and your social gatherings instead? Think how much it costs to maintain your car and the cost per mile — expensive, right? Well, on average it only costs $155 a year to maintain your bicycle. Now take a minute to absorb into your brain what you could do with the savings.
The breakdown: Assuming you travel around 5,000miles/year (roughly what an average commuter would travel) here is a list of maintenance costs:
2 chains = $40
2 sets of tires = $80
1 set brake pads = $10
2 tubes = $15
Chain lube = $10
Total = $155
$155/5000miles = $0.03/mile
2) You have been trying to lose those 15 pounds for years and clearly drinking diet soda and skipping breakfast isn’t working. Well, ride your bike and the food you eat is the fuel you burn off. Bike to work and back, and bam! — you’ve burned off breakfast and lunch. Talk about an easy way to exercise.
3) You need more fun in your life and time to reflect. Biking makes you feel like a kid — glide down a hill and take advantage of those moments of solitude when you’re biking. Plus, it’s fun to connect with friends and family over rides.
4) You’ve been looking for a way to volunteer but haven’t found the right fit. Teaching a kid to ride a bike can be your good deed for the day! If you want to outdo yourself in do-gooding, then teach your your co-workers the Rules of the Road and the way to bike to the office. Just one helpful person could convert a couple car-drivers into bike commuters. Think of the impact we could all have if we just asked our friends to bike to work with us.
5) The more bike riders on the road, the more jealous every one sitting in traffic will be! These frustrated motorists will see the smiles on our faces as we whiz by on our two-wheels and think, “Hey, why don’t I try biking to work?” Also, bike commuters can get their work to reimburse them with the Bike Commuter Tax Benefit.
Happy Bike Month America! Stay active this weekend and go for a ride with friends or your kids. Look for rides all over our country on our Bike Month Events page. If you have a particularly fun event, you could be the next Bike Month event we highlight!
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
Next up is Carly Sieff, Bicycle Friendly America Program Assistant.
Hi Carly, what do you like most about Bike Month?
Bike Month is a wonderful time to rediscover biking. Pull your bike out from under the dust in the garage, and join thousands of others around the country and right in your community who are anxious to embrace spring, beautiful weather and a summer of activity by getting out there on bicycles. It is a time to really feel the support that is there for bike commuters and to know what a positive impact you are making for yourself and the environment.
You work on the Bicycle Friendly University program. What’s the coolest thing a college is doing during Bike Month?
The University of Oregon has an inspiring series of events throughout the month of May. The highlight of the month is the Bike Music Fest which features pedal-powered musical and entertainment acts, a free repair station, a Live-on-Bike musical performance & bicycle ride, and a workshop about pedal-generated electricity.
And of course I can’t forget to mention the bicycle-shaped pancakes at the University of California Santa Barbara as a part of their Bike to School CycleMAYnia event.
Bike-shaped pancakes. Nice. OK, back to you. When and why do you ride your bike?
I ride my bike every day and almost everywhere—to work, friends’ houses, bars, trailheads, grocery shopping…
I find biking empowering, knowing that I can get myself wherever I need to be, completely human powered. It is also the most efficient means of travel, as I can come and go on my own time rather than the bus’ schedule, pass by vehicular traffic from the bike lane, and plentiful bike parking and a connected bike network allow me to run errands on my way home. Not only does biking efficiently get me to my destination, but it provides an interaction with the community, a lesson in sustainability and a healthy, active way to get around.
What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
I spent a summer biking 4,000 miles across the country. And that was probably my longest ride.
Do you have an all-time favorite route, trip, or experience you’d like to share?
I’ve gone on some great bike trips leaving from my own front door in DC—crossing through 3 states on a weekend ride to Harper’s Ferry, trying my wheels in urban exploration on a ride to Baltimore, and exploring Virginia view from the mountains of Shenandoah.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
Be careful, it’s addicting!It may take a few trips to get comfortable (for which I suggest riding with an experienced commuter who knows the good routes), but once you do, you’ll realize how much sense biking makes for your health, your wallet and the environment.
What do know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
That it is worth investing in warm, dry gear for the winter and keeping my bike well-lit and safe. I spent too many rides my first winter commuting with numb fingers and toes, and thin tires slipping on ice. I calculated that with the money I save on the metro (about $80/ month), I can afford to invest in apparel and accessories that will last and make my rides safer and more enjoyable.
What do you typically wear to ride?
On my everyday commute, I wear exactly what I am wearing to work—skirt, dress, blouse, etc. It is only on my longer weekend rides that I break out the lycra.
Thanks, Carly!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Representatives Matsui and LaTourette (Photo source: National Complete Streets Coalition)
Should the bill pass, states would have two years to pass a law or put in place a DOT policy to require that “all transportation projects in the State shall accommodate the safety and convenience of all users in accordance with complete streets principles.” The bill defines these principles as “the safe and adequate accommodation…of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles” and “the consideration of the safety and convenience of all users in all phases of project planning and development.”
“This bill will help ensure that our federal transportation investments are creating the safest environment possible for everyone using our roadways,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui, the lead author of the Safe and Complete Streets Act. “Complete Streets policies are win-win for local communities: they save lives and create forward-looking projects that provide lasting value. I have seen firsthand the interest in Complete Streets on the local level, and a Federal Complete Streets standard will ensure a consistent approach for all our transportation investments.”
According to the Coalition, a Senate version of the bill is expected soon.
Congressman LaTourette (white shirt) receives a League leadership award from the Ohio delegation and League staff (far left) at the National Bike Summit. (Photo: Chris Eichler)
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
League Education Director Preston Tyree in an airport as he crisscrosses the country to spread the word about Smart Cycling (photo: Ann Tyree)
Hi Preston, from your perspective, what impact does Bike Month have on bicycling in this country?
Bike Month is the first time a lot of adults get back on a bike. I expect this year, with the price of gas up, we may see more people on bikes than in any recent Bike Month.
What is your favorite Bike Month experience or memory?
Riding with our politicians in the Political Pedal. You really begin to see some changes when your mayor, a couple of council members, county commissioners, and state and national representatives all go riding with the Police Chief. And of course we finish a local restaurant for dinner and a beverage of our choice.
When did you first start riding regularly? What made you start?
I’ve never really stopped riding since I started in 1948. I can remember riding in Junior High, at the University and all through Graduate School at UVa. It has always been about independence and freedom.
What are your riding habits like these days?
Because I work out of my house (telecommuting) and travel a lot I have to make myself ride. I do a faux commute with a 7-10 mile loop at least once a day and many days twice, morning and evening.
What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
There is a ride in Texas every year, the Lone Star Circle of Life to raise awareness of the need for donation of Blood, Tissue, Marrow and Organs. I’ve done it 4 times in 14 years and it used to be 800 miles but it’s down to about 600 miles over 8 days.
Do you have an all-time favorite route, trip, or experience you’d like to share?
I guess it would have to be getting my friend Jimmy Hudson fit enough to complete a 180 mile two day ride. Jimmy was about 60 when we started and we got him ready to do the ride twice. The great thing about this is that Jimmy is blind and does the rides on the back of a tandem.
As the League’s director of education, what tips do you have for new bike commuters?
Just get out and do it. If you only ride one day a month that works out to about 5% which would be huge if everyone did it. Don’t try to commute every day, if that’s too much. Take it easy and enjoy it.
What do know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
It took me a long time to understand that riding assertively, predictably and conspicuously really does make motorists respect me more as a road user. I’ve gotten to where I control the lane until I feel it is safe to give up control. It just works better in traffic.
What do you typically wear to ride?
Whatever I have on when it is time to ride. If I am going out to do my loop it may be my regular clothes. If I am going to do a 20-miler or better I’ll do the whole lycra bit and make myself really visible. For the longest rides I make sure I have layers and rain gear. Of course this year in Texas rain really hasn’t been a problem. But my next trip is to Seattle and the forecast is for 60% chance of rain the entire time I am up there. Thanks, Preston!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Today is a reminder … that every American, every single person in this country, can do something to support our remarkable troops and their families. Everybody can do something.
So seven years ago, a bartender from Long Island had the same idea. He wasn’t from a military family. He had never served in the military. But he knew that he owed our military something. He was just an ordinary American who was grateful for the service of all those who wear the uniform. And he said, “I just wanted to give something back.”
So he jumped on his bike and rode across the country — over 5,000 miles — to raise funds and awareness for our wounded warriors. Today, there are Soldier Rides all across America giving our wounded warriors the confidence and support they need to recover. That’s the difference a single person can make. Today we want to thank Chris Carney and everyone from the Wounded Warrior Project for reminding us of our obligations to each other as Americans …
Photos: AP/Evan Vucci
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
First up is Katie Omberg, our membership and events associate.
Hi Katie, what’s your favorite Bike Month experience?
Last year’s Bike to Work Day was a month after I joined the League staff. It was so exciting! It was my first Bike Month event. I had never seen so many cyclists on the roads, and everyone looked so happy to be out and about on their bikes.
WABA hosted a huge event that morning at Freedom Plaza in DC, which was packed with cyclists. We started helping set up the square at 6:00 am, and got to tabling for the League once commuters started biking in. I had a lot of fun meeting our members, and telling others about how we’re working for cyclists all year round (every day is Bike to Work Day in our office!).
I left that day feeling so happy and proud of the work we do, and of the community of cyclists as a whole. Seeing how happy everyone on their bike looked help take me from a three-day a week commuter to someone who bikes to work every day.
Why do you ride your bike?
I ride for transportation: to work, running errands, or visiting friends.
How often do you ride to work?
Every day, unless it is pouring rain.
What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?
Distance isn’t my strong suit; I bike for transportation and live near my job, so the longest is probably 12 miles in a day.
What tips do you have for new bike commuters?
Just do it! I was really afraid to ride in the road for a long time, which made it impossible to commute to work by bike. A friend told me “it’s really hard and scary until you’re in the road, and then you realize that you’ll be just fine,” and I followed her advice.
The first time I did it I’ll admit, I was scared, but it was such a rush to know I could get from Point A to Point B on my bike, quick and easy. You just have to be brave enough to do it once, and then you’ll keep coming back for more.
What do know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?
To get panniers. They’ve made grocery shopping so much easier!
What do you typically wear to ride?
Normal clothes; whatever I’m wearing to work!
Thanks, Katie!
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
The capture and subsequent killing of Osama bin Laden late Sunday was news that shook many in America. Hundreds of D.C. citizens and visitors converged on the White House. However, with the hour being so late, it was hard to get there — buses are few to come by late at night and the metro closes around midnight on Sundays. However, the people in D.C. had a new transportation choice — Capital Bike Share. Capital Bikeshare tweeted, “There were 558 bike rentals between 10pm – 2am last night. During the same time frame last weekend: 105.”
According to the Washington Post, people who were at the gathering were also surprised by how many red Capital Bike Share bikes they saw in front of the White House. They wrote, “Stephen Miller joined the spontaneous celebration at the White House. Although he rode his own bike, he was struck by the number of red Capital Bikeshare bikes he saw as he headed downtown from his home in Mount Pleasant. Miller shot a Twitpic of more than a dozen parked near the celebration.”
Nothing about the evening was predictable, but it certainly was interesting to see this unexpected role for public bikes unfold – and if you look carefully at news footage of the crowds gathering outside the White House, you can see the tell-tale blinky lights in the background!
Andy Clarke League President
Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director.
America’s mayors want more control over federal transportation money. That is according to a survey released today by the United States Conference of Mayors. And what would they spend it on? Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure would be near the top of their list.
“As the federal government sets priorities for long-term spending and deficit reduction, future transportation infrastructure investments should focus spending on pressing metropolitan transportation infrastructure needs as opposed to low-priority highway expansion projects such as the infamous Bridge to Nowhere,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Bicycling and walking rank high among the biggest challenges identified by the mayors:
The mayors also made clear they wouldn’t favor a gas tax increase if transportation funds were allocated in the traditional way, but that 70 percent would support it if a share of the funding were allocated directly to local governments, and with more money going to bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
This will add fuel to the debate about the optimum level of decision-making for transportation spending and is further evidence that bicycle and pedestrian projects may fare better at the city level than the state or even the regional level.
In a discussion at the National Journal Transportation Experts Blog, Mortimer L. Downey, senior advisor at Parsons Brinckerhoff, which conducted the survey, says this about the countries mayors: “These are the men and women [in] big city, small city and suburban communities, who are closest to the voters and have broad responsibilities to achieve results.”
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Reston, Va. residents battle traffic just like the rest of the D.C. metro area but they decided to actually find out which method of transportation is quicker during rush hour — bike, bus or car.
It turns out that the fastest way to get to the Reston Town Center from the neighborhood near South Lakes High School, about 3 miles away, is to ride a bicycle. Bruce Wright of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) made the trip in just over 13 minutes.
The winner Bruce Wright (left) took 13 minutes on a bike. He is congratulated by Kathleen Driscoll McKee who took 52 minutes taking a bus. Photos by Mike McKee.
Another bicyclist who took the same route but rode at an easier pace, Kerie Hitt, also of FABB, arrived next 3 and a half minutes later. Delegate Ken Plum’s trip in his hybrid car took him 19 minutes. Taking the long route with a ride through Hunter’s Woods Village Center on the RIBS 2 bus on her way to the Town Center was Reston Association President and School Board candidate Kathleen Driscoll McKee. She had a leisurely trip of 50 minutes.
“This was a good simulation that demonstrates real alternatives to the automobile for short trips in Reston and the rest of our community” noted Delegate Plum. He also said that short car trips are the least efficient, even for his hybrid car, which only averaged 30 mpg on the 3 mile trip.
The group was met at the Pavilion by Supervisor Cathy Hudgins who is a long-time supporter of transportation alternatives for Hunter Mill District residents. She has supported Bike to Work Day in Reston from the beginning in 2002. The last several years she has appeared at the event on her folding bike. Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20. The Reston event will be held at the Town Center Pavilion. Susan Stillman, who is a member of the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee and a FABB member, rode from Vienna to greet the group at the Pavilion and to congratulate Bruce.
According to Bruce, “Riding a bike for transportation is a viable option for many people. What we showed today is that bicycling and driving travel times are very comparable for short trips, and bicycling costs much less and is better for the environment. I didn’t use any foreign oil on the trip.”
While RA President Driscoll McKee had the longest trip, she noted that the RIBS 2 bus was nearly full during the trip. The fare was $1.50. As a bus rider she could read, check her email, or otherwise make productive use of her time. To schedule her trip we used WMATA’s Trip Planner, entering an origin, destination, and either arrival or departure time and selecting from the options. When Metrorail arrives in Reston local bus routes will be modified to provide more frequent service for accessing the Wiehle and Reston Parkway stations, making them a much more attractive alternative to driving and paying to park.
See coverage of the event on the Reston Patch, including a video segment.
Reston will be one of many cities and areas participating in the D.C. metro area’s Bike to Work Day celebration on Friday, May 20 that is hosted by WABA.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
A San Diego Union-Tribune reporter vows to bike to work every day in May and thinks he’s in over his head. We know he can do it — hey, he even has showers at work. Maybe the newspaper should consider applying for Bicycle Friendly Business status. Getting new folks on bikes is what Bike Month is all about. Hopefully he’ll inspire others. Also, is was gratifying to see all the supportive comments his article received.
What better time to launch a new Bike Style blog in Spokane, WA? bikestylespokane.com
Sacramento kicked off Bike Month with West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Sonja Atkins, coordinator with Mercy San Juan Medical Center Safe Kids. They’re challenging folks in SacTown to ride 2 million miles in May.
Several articles summarize all the Bike Month events in the community, like
If I’m missing any good Bike Month coverage that you know about, please tell me in the comments. Thanks.
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
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